People who regularly drink tea or coffee at extremely high temperatures may face a higher risk of developing oesophageal cancer, according to a new study. Researchers found that adults who preferred their beverages very hot were more than three times as likely to develop a major type of oesophageal cancer compared with those who allowed their drinks to cool before drinking them.
The study analysed health information from nearly one million adults in the United Kingdom. Researchers used data from two large long-term health research projects — the Million Women Study and the UK Biobank — to examine participants’ beverage-drinking habits and their health outcomes.
Participants were followed for more than a decade, allowing researchers to study whether the temperature at which people consumed tea or coffee was associated with their later risk of oesophageal cancer.
The findings suggest that drinking beverages at extremely high temperatures may be an important risk factor. Very hot liquids can repeatedly expose the lining of the oesophagus to heat, which may cause irritation and damage over a long period.
The oesophagus is the tube that carries food and drinks from the mouth to the stomach. Oesophageal cancer can develop in the cells lining this tube and can become a serious condition, particularly when it is detected at a later stage.
Researchers said the findings support the simple habit of allowing tea and coffee to cool for some time before drinking them. This may reduce exposure to very high temperatures without requiring people to stop consuming these popular beverages.
However, the study shows an association between drinking temperature and cancer risk and does not by itself prove that extremely hot tea or coffee directly causes oesophageal cancer. Other lifestyle and health factors can also influence a person’s cancer risk.
The research adds to previous scientific evidence suggesting that regularly consuming very hot drinks may be linked to oesophageal cancer. Health experts have therefore advised people who enjoy hot beverages to avoid drinking them while they are still at scalding temperatures.
Tea and coffee can remain part of a normal diet, but allowing them to cool before consumption may be a simple precaution. The researchers’ findings highlight how small changes in everyday habits could potentially help reduce exposure to avoidable health risks.